Undredal is a small village situated at the majestic Nærøyfjord in Western Norway. Up until 1988, the remote settlement was accessible solely by water. Nonetheless, people lived here for centuries, cultivating the rich soil and living off sheep herding. It is famous for a delicious kind of cheese named Geinost, consisting of goat milk. Also, in Undredal, you can find the smallest Viking church in Norway; it has only forty seats (picture 6).
The last time Cyprus was featured was about a divided island. Though the political situation is complicated, I recommend visiting both parts of the island. So, I won’t differentiate between the Turkish and the Greek parts in the following gallery. Pictures 5, 6, and 7 need some background: After the Ottoman conquest of Cyprus, former Gothic Cathedrals were converted into Mosques. Interestingly, some were not destroyed, and only minor changes were made (like the destruction of angel figures due to the ban on images in Islam). The altar was displaced within the church so the believers could pray in the direction of Mekka. According to Ottoman traditions, the former Cathedrals had carpets, and the inner church was painted white. Though inside as well as outside, you still see the Christian heritage. The clean and bright style of Islamic religious decoration combined with the dark and gothic severe style makes for a thoroughly fascinating combination.
It’s been a while. I have been on the road for the last couple of months, so there was no time to update the blog. On the plus side, though, I got to shoot plenty of photography. So the place here will get more lively again in the upcoming weeks and months. Big news first: There is a new web address! Now, the blog can be reached (also) via michaelhoffman.at
In June, I got the opportunity to visit Georgia and Armenia. These are two relatively small countries south of the Caucasus mountain range, equipped with long and dramatic histories. They have distinct cultures with their own alphabets and Christian traditions. While Armenia is a landlocked country, a mountainous place, historically living off trade, Georgia lies between the northern and southern Caucasus, mainly within a fertile lowland. Georgians are predominantly peasants, and many of them cultivate wine. The grape is one of the most important export products of the country. The urban center of Georgia also lies within its geographic center. Tbilisi is an exciting place, modern on the one hand while still maintaining a very traditional and almost oriental flair. But no matter where you are in the country, chances are high you will spot a very distinctive church. Many of these date back as far as the mid of the 1 Century AC and are still important centers of religious and civic life.
This one is overdue, actually. Here are some impressions of my hometown in May of this year (2014).
This post is part of the so-called “Greek Series”, consisting of photographs I shot while backpacking Greece in September 2013. You’ll find a basic introduction to the series here and the last post featuring Santorini can be accessed here.
The last entry featured the mysterious red tones of Santorini. While the color indeed is very special to the island, Santorini is also part of Greece. And so it is a blue island after all.
This is one kind of “The Viennese Central Cemetery Part 2,5,” or the outtake. Two shots I really liked but which didn’t fit into. In the second picture, you see the fabulous Karl-Borromäus church in the center of the cemetery. Plus, another shot from Vienna’s streets captures autumn’s colors.
Michael Hoffman Photography 